School Bd Postpones Approval Of Toshiba Computer Offer

By Jeff White

The Newtown Board of Education has postponed until its next action meeting in February a vote on an offer from Toshiba that would put 15 new computers into the high school free of charge,.

After the offer was initially introduced by high school Principal Bill Manfredonia at a school board meeting January 4, the board tabled the issue last week because some questions were still left unanswered, Chairman Elaine McClure said Wednesday.

The computer company is in the midst of a nationwide educational initiative whereby it hopes to install 15 new computers into as many high schools and middle schools as possible. Accompanying the computers would be an educational search engine called “Zap Me!Ó”, which would act as a student research tool. The new computers would be tied into the high school’s existing network.

Fine and applied arts Department Head Pat Walsh was able to fast-track Toshiba’s initiative so that the company is ready to deliver the computers to Newtown High School upon district approval.

Newtown High School Principal Bill Manfredonia supported the proposal. “We’ve looked into this, done a lot of research, and see no way this can harm us.”

Mr Manfredonia said that he would like to put the 15 computers into the library, freeing up current computers and placing them in 15 different classrooms. Toshiba’s offer would help the high school with its goal of having each of its classrooms equipped with a computer, Mr Manfredonia explained.

Although Toshiba’s offer would not cost the school district any money, it does come with some obligations relating to specific computer use and accessibility. The Tokyo-based company, with United States computer headquarters in Irvine, California, requests that the 15 computers be up and running 50 percent of the time during school hours and utilize the “Zap Me!Ó” search engine exclusively. They want the primary use of the computers to be for research.

Moreover, the company would like to have limited access to these computers at the high school to train employees. However, this would happen only after school and “in no way interfering” with the function of the high school, Mr Manfredonia insisted.  

Questions about network security and the prevalence of uncontrolled advertising proliferated when the school board took up this issue January 4. Superintendent of Schools John Reed has said that a precondition for his support would be the existence of a login system, which the system does not currently have. A login control would allow teachers to monitor where students went while using the Internet.

School board members also wanted to learn more about what kind of advertising the “Zap Me!Ó” homepage would carry. Mrs McClure said this week that the school board still had some questions that needed answers, and that most members have not had the opportunity to see the “Zap Me!Ó” search engine.

In all, Toshiba’s offer leaves little for the Newtown school system to do besides approve it. The onus of installation and system upkeep would be completely on Toshiba, according to Mr Manfredonia; if something goes wrong, the company will send a technician to address it. Moreover, either Newtown High School or Toshiba can terminate the arrangement at any time.

A school board approval for the deal involving the high school would essentially be a vote for the middle school to also take part. Middle school administrators are encouraged by the offer. In addition, Toshiba has said that it would look over applications from Newtown elementary schools, just as a preparatory measure. They are not ready to move on the elementary school front yet.

Mr Manfredonia realized that Toshiba’s offer brought with it obvious business benefits for the company, like greater name recognition and links to students. Still, he viewed this as a way of guaranteeing quality service and products for Newtown’s schools. And the new computers could ease future budgetary difficulties in requesting funds for technology, he said, adding, “How could you not want 15 free computers?”